Helen Shirley Elizabeth (Novack) Hipkins

Helen Shirley Elizabeth Novack Hipkins (8/31/35 - 8/23/21) Helen was born and grew up in Garfield, NJ with her parents Frank and Helen, her brother Jerry and sister Linda. She married Kenneth Hipkins on January 23rd 1954 and they lived together for the following 67 and a half years. Their favorite song was ‘I Only Have Eyes For You’. They loved to polka at a wedding, enjoyed camping, and took plenty of vacations to Colonial Williamsburg. She was a devoted and loving mother to four children. She never missed a sporting event or school play, was always available to help with any PTA or outside event for her kids, and somehow still found time to run a busy household and be scout mother to Troop 1 of which her husband was scout master. She also found time to sew Halloween costumes, bake cookies and a wonderful chocolate cake and (although no one in the family can remember seeing her work on them) cross stitched many intricate samplers. She also worked as a Tupperware lady, Avon saleswoman, Sarah Coventry saleswoman, Welcome Wagon Lady, and for many years as an executive secretary at Hoffman Laroche. Ken and Helen moved to Raphine, VA in 1994 and build a home she named Grandview. They lived happily there together for 27 years walking in their woods, watching deer and birds. And feeding birds. Helen fed a lot of birds. She loved many dogs, most recently Buster who was a good boy and loved her very much, even when she wasn’t feeding him from her plate. Helen lived with Parkinson’s Disease for many years before her symptoms became more than they could handle as a couple and so they moved to the Legacy at North Augusta in April of this year. She was immediately embraced and adored by the staff there, as was usual, no one that ever met Helen wasn’t immediately drawn to her warm smile, generosity, and quick sense of humor. Helen was a member of Saint Francis Catholic Church in Staunton. She was a volunteer at Guardian Angels Academy for 12 years. She loved to shop anywhere, kept too much ice cream in her freezer, enjoyed many trips to Cape Cod, and could say “I love you” in Polish. She was a bright spot in any day and will be missed by anyone who knew her. A rosary service will be held on Wednesday August 25, 2021 at 6 PM at the Staunton Chapel of Reynolds Hamrick Funeral Homes. The family will receive friends following the service. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, August 26, 2021 at 10 AM at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church with Father Matthias Lusembo officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Helen's Memory to the Parkinson's Foundation, 1359 Broadway, #1509, New York, New York, 10018 or by visiting https://secure3.convio.net/prkorg/site/Donation2?10243.donation=form1&df_id=10243&mfc_pref=T Arrangements entrusted to the Staunton Chapel of Reynolds Hamrick Funeral Homes.